Very Light Jets
Eclipse 500
A very light twin jet for up to five, certified for a single pilot, with 1,125 NM of published range carrying four people.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Specifications checked against manufacturer and type certificate data · Last updated 14 September 2026
At a glance
Eclipse 500 specifications
Figures are representative of the type; individual aircraft vary with configuration, load and conditions.
Where it fits
A twin jet sized for small parties travelling light
The Eclipse 500 is a twin-engine very light jet certified for single-pilot operation. Its published range of 1,125 NM is quoted with four people aboard (the pilot and three passengers) on NBAA IFR reserves with a 100 NM alternate, and that is the load the desk plans around.
The cabin is 4 feet 2 inches tall and 4 feet 8 inches wide, so passengers sit rather than stand, and the baggage allowance is 16 cubic feet. It suits a pilot and three passengers with soft bags, not a full cabin with suitcases.
Eclipse Aviation received its FAA type certificate in September 2006 and built the original EA500 until its bankruptcy in November 2008. The Eclipse 550, built by Eclipse Aerospace from 2014 to 2017 under the same type certificate, added about 60 upgrades including autothrottles. Aviation Week counted 219 Eclipse 500s in service in May 2025.
More than three passengers with real luggage, or anyone who needs to stand. The cabin is 4 feet 2 inches tall and the hold takes 16 cubic feet, which means a few soft bags. For the same short sectors with room for suitcases, the Phenom 100 is the better tool.
Missions
What the desk books it for
Day trips for one to three
Business trips where the party is small and the bags are overnight size. Rome to Paris, at 606 NM, sits well inside its published range with four aboard.
Mediterranean sectors
London to Nice (560 NM) and Cairo to Athens (598 NM) are both inside the range quoted with four aboard, with permits filed alongside the trip.
Dallas to the mountains
Dallas to Aspen is 618 NM, well within reach. What the desk checks first is runway performance at Aspen on the day, for the weight and temperature of your flight.
Shorter runways
Eclipse Aerospace publishes a takeoff distance of 2,394 feet at maximum weight at sea level, which opens shorter runways. The desk confirms each airport for the specific aircraft.
Where it flies
Routes the desk flies on the Eclipse 500
Sectors from our route guides that sit inside the Eclipse 500's published range with four people aboard. Each opens to the flight time, the airports at both ends and what to know before you fly.
Cabin and baggage
A seated cabin, bags kept light
Eclipse Aerospace gives an interior length of 148 inches (12 feet 4 inches), without stating whether that includes the cockpit, with a width of 4 feet 8 inches and a height of 4 feet 2 inches. The type is certified for six seats including the pilot, so up to five passengers.
AOPA notes that many owners have removed the middle row of seats, leaving four, so the layout differs from aircraft to aircraft. The desk confirms the seat count on the specific aircraft before it quotes.
Baggage capacity is 16 cubic feet. Tell the desk exactly what you are bringing when you enquire: on this aircraft the bags, as much as the headcount, decide whether the trip fits.
Performance and airports
Runways, altitude and the airports it opens
The 2011 Eclipse Aerospace specification gives a takeoff distance of 2,394 feet at the 6,000 lb maximum takeoff weight at sea level on a standard day, and a landing distance of 2,342 feet with four passengers. Maximum operating altitude is 41,000 feet, where the cabin is held at 8,000 feet.
Aviation Week gives a maximum cruise of 370 knots at 33,000 feet, and the runway figures open executive airports such as Dallas Love Field and Biggin Hill.
Short runways still need checking. At Aspen, the runway length available on the day depends on elevation, temperature and weight, and London City requires a type and crew approved for its steep approach. The desk checks both for the specific aircraft before a quote goes out.
Compare the class
Eclipse 500 against the other very light jets
How the Eclipse 500 lines up against the other very light jets we cover. The HondaJet and Phenom 100 fly a little further and faster and carry about four times the baggage; the Eclipse's case is a shorter published takeoff distance than either, for small parties travelling light.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range | Cruise | Cabin height | Baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse 500This aircraft | Up to 5 | 1,125 NM | 370 kts | 4 ft 2 in | 16 cu ft |
| Embraer Phenom 100 | 4 to 7 | 1,178 NM | 406 kts | 4 ft 11 in | 64 cu ft |
| HondaJet HA-420 | 5 to 6 | 1,223 NM | 422 kts | 4 ft 10 in | 66 cu ft |
Chartering with Icarus Jet
How we charter the Eclipse 500
We source Eclipse 500s from ARGUS-audited and Wyvern-certified operators, and the operator's name and audit status are on the quote. On a jet this size the desk checks seats, baggage and range against your real party and routing before it checks availability, so the aircraft offered is one that genuinely fits the trip.
Quotes are all-in and itemised: aircraft and crew, positioning, landing and handling, fuel and taxes, with nothing added after the flight that was not on the page. The figure depends on where the nearest suitable aircraft is based, the dates and the airports, which is why we price your actual trip rather than publish a rate.
Questions
Eclipse 500 questions the desk gets
How far can an Eclipse 500 fly nonstop?
Eclipse Aerospace publishes 1,125 NM on NBAA IFR reserves with a 100 NM alternate, carrying the pilot and three passengers. That covers sectors such as London to Nice or Dallas to Aspen. Winds, temperature and weight decide the real figure on the day, and the desk plans each leg against them.
How many passengers does an Eclipse 500 seat?
The type is certified for six seats including the pilot, so up to five passengers. The published range assumes three passengers, and AOPA notes many owners have removed the middle row, so the desk confirms the layout of the specific aircraft.
Can you stand up in the cabin?
No. The cabin is 4 feet 2 inches tall and 4 feet 8 inches wide, so passengers stay seated for the flight. If standing room matters, the desk will quote a stand-up cabin such as the Citation XLS.
How much luggage fits on an Eclipse 500?
Baggage capacity is 16 cubic feet, enough for a few soft bags rather than full-size suitcases. Tell the desk what you are bringing when you enquire; if the bags will not fit, a Phenom 100 or HondaJet is the usual next step.
Does the Eclipse 500 have one engine or two?
Two: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F-A turbofans of 900 lbf each. It is certified for single-pilot operation, and it is small enough to fit in a standard T-hangar.
What is the difference between the Eclipse 500 and the Eclipse 550?
The Eclipse 550 was built by Eclipse Aerospace from 2014 to 2017 under the same EA500 type certificate, with about 60 upgrades including autothrottles and improved avionics. The cabin dimensions are the same, so for charter the two do the same job; the desk will tell you which one is available.
How fast is the Eclipse 500?
Aviation Week gives a maximum cruise of 370 knots at 33,000 feet, and the 2011 Eclipse Aerospace sheet lists 375 knots. Its maximum operating altitude is 41,000 feet.
Related
Around the Eclipse 500
Get your number
Charter the Eclipse 500
Send the route, the dates and the passengers. The desk checks range and baggage against the trip, then comes back with the aircraft that genuinely fit and an itemised quote.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203. The desk is staffed 24/7.
Comparing aircraft? Browse the Aircraft Guides in the Aviation Library, 600+ guides on chartering and operations.